Afghanistan vs England Match Overview

Afghanistan faced England in the 8th match of the Champions Trophy 2025 on Wednesday, February 26, at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat. They finished with 325 runs for the loss of seven wickets on the board with the help of a terrific performance from Ibrahim Zadran. Zadran made 177 runs off 146 balls, the highest score in the Champions Trophy.

In reply, England were bundled out for 317 runs in 49.5 overs and lost the match by eight runs. Azmatullah Omarzai finished with five wickets for 58 runs in 9.5 overs. Zadran won the Player of the Match award for his batting performance.

🔹 Also Read This: IPL 2025 Schedule: Time Table, Venues, Match List, Points Table

First Innings: Afghanistan’s Batting Performance

Afghanistan set a formidable target of 326 runs against England, largely thanks to a remarkable innings from Ibrahim Zadran. The opener scored an impressive 177 runs off 146 balls, showcasing his ability to anchor the innings despite early setbacks, as Afghanistan lost three wickets during the powerplay. Zadran formed crucial partnerships with Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Mohammad Nabi, guiding his team past the 300-mark.

Zadran’s innings included 12 fours and 6 sixes, marking one of the best performances in Champions Trophy history. Mohammad Nabi contributed a quickfire 40 runs off just 24 balls before falling to Liam Livingstone.

Second Innings: England’s Run Chase

The chase began with promise, but the English batting lineup struggled against a disciplined Afghan bowling attack. Despite a solid start, England lost wickets at crucial intervals, with Joe Root top-scoring with 120 runs off 111 balls, showcasing his ability to anchor the innings amid the pressure.

Ben Duckett and Jos Buttler got starts but failed to make it big with the bat. Afghanistan’s bowlers, particularly Azmatullah Omarzai, proved effective, with Omarzai claiming five wickets for 58 runs. The turning point came when England lost quick wickets in succession, leaving them reeling and unable to recover.

Afghanistan vs England Performances & Player of the Match

Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan)

• Zadran finished with 177 runs off 146 deliveries to his name.
• It is the highest score in the Champions Trophy now.
• Zadran broke his own record of highest individual score in ODIs by a batter for Afghanistan.

Joe Root (England)

• Root scored his first ODI century after June 2019.
• He almost won the match for the English side with his knock of 120 runs off 111 deliveries.

Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan)

• Took his first five-wicket haul in ODIs.
• Finished with five wickets for 58 runs in 9.5 overs.
• With the bat, Omarzai made 41 runs off 31 deliveries.

Jofra Archer (England)

• He was the pick of the bowlers for England.
• Archer took three wickets for 64 runs in 10 overs.

Afghanistan vs England Match Summary

Afghanistan’s hope of making it to another semi-final of an ICC event is still intact. They will be facing Australia in their next game. Coincidentally, Afghanistan defeated Australia in the T20 World Cup last year and qualified for the semi-finals. 

England’s miserable run in white-ball cricket continues. Since they won the T20 World Cup in 2022, the team has not been able to find their mojo, and their recent performances are a testament to the same. They need to go back to the drawing board and create some strategies just like they did after the 2015 ODI World Cup debacle.

🔹 Also Read This: WPL 2025 Time Table Schedule